One-piece carton for protecting fragile articles



Oct. 23, 1962 R. G. KRAMER 3,059,830"

ONE-PIECE CARTON FOR PROTECTING FRAGILE ARTICLES Filed Nov. 7, 1961 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Robert Gilframer x BY ATTORNEY Oct. 23, 1962 R.G. KRAMER 3,059,830

ONE-PIECE CARTON FOR PROTECTING FRAGILE ARTICLES Filed Nov. 7, 1961 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Refer! ifframer BY L Lz-s ATTORNEY Oct. 23, 1962R. G. KRAMER 3,059,830

ONE-PIECE CARTON FOR PROTECTING FRAGILE ARTICLES Filed Nov. 7, 1961 lll:

Ml li 1H 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I [WI y I] I: r!

E llm 22' L n 32 i C77 15 I i 5 y INVENTOR. 5 Zoier/ 6. 142mm;

BY 33' AQW 3 -vpocfi z rs .1221: .2: Lax-5'. 76 I 47 roe/V5) Unite ratesThis invention relates generally to improvements in cartons and moreparticularly to a novel shock-proof cushion receptacle particularlyadapted for the packaging of fragile articles, such as radio tubes,electronic components and the like, without requiring corrugated boardand packing elements.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel blankand carton constructed from paperboard or the like which is readilyadapted for use in automatic erecting and packing equipment, whichincludes a novel inner liner sleeve for protecting a packaged articlefrom shock to the exterior surfaces of the completed package as well asprotecting at least one end portion of the article being packed.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent on a consideration of the followingspecification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan View of the novel blank of the invention looking at theouter surface thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the novel carton in a partiallyerected condition, illustrating the manner in which the inner linersleeve is initially formed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the completely erected cartonformed from the blank of FIG.1 with the end flaps thereof open;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified pair of inner linersleeve panels used to form two end cradles in the novel carton;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken substantially on the plane of line55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged View of a fragmentary portion of FIG. 5,illustrating the manner in which the novel carton is glued in itsfinally erected condition;

FIG. 7 is a perspective View of the novel carton with the end flapsthereof closed;

FIG. 8 is a vertical section taken substantially on the plane of line 88of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a vertical section taken substantially on the plane of line9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a vertical section taken substantially on the plane of line1010 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken substantially on theplane of line 1111 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially on theplane of line 12-12 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a modified blank of the invention, similar toFIG. 1, with the blank oriented 180 with respect to the position of theblank shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view, somewhat similar to FIG. 2, showing themanner in which the modified inner liner sleeve is initially formedduring erection of the novel carton; and

FIG. 15 is a vertical section taken diagonally through opposite cornersof a carton erected from the blank of FIG. 1 on a plane substantiallypassing through line 1515 of FIG. 14 after the container is erected.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first considering FIG. 1, thenovel blank is indicated generally at 10 and is produced from anysuitable paperboard material or the like. The blank includes anelongated body portion 12 which is substantially rectangular andincludes an upper margin 14 parallel to a lower margin 16 and noratent f3,059,830 Patented Oct. 23, 1962 mal to the margins 14 and 16 are endmargins 18 and 20. The blank 10 comprises a series of linearly disposedhingedly connected panels including a first side wall panel 22, a secondside wall panel 24, a third side wall panel 26, a fourth side wall panel28, a first glue flap panel 30, a first inner liner sleeve panel 32, asecond inner liner sleeve panel 34, a first corner panel 36, a secondcorner panel 38, a third inner liner sleeve panel 40, a fourth innerliner sleeve panel 42, and a second glue flap panel 44. The first sidewall panel 22 has hingedly connected at opposite ends thereof fold line46 and 48 co-linear with the upper and lower margins 14 and 16,respectively, cover flaps 50 and 52, respectively, which are hingedlyconnected at fold lines 54 and 56 to end tabs 58 and 60, respectively.The second side wall panel 24 has hingedly connected at fold lines 62and 64 end flaps 6'6 and 68, respectively. The fourth side Wall panel 28has hingedly connected at fold lines 70 and 72 end flaps 74 and 76,respectively.

The glue flap panels 30 and 44 have a suitable adhesive material appliedto the outer surface thereof as indicated by the stippling thereon, theglue being applied by automatic equipment as is conventional in the art.

The panels 24-44 are connected by means of a plurality of mutuallyparallel fold lines normal to and termimating at the upper lower margins14 and 16 as indicated at 7696.

It will be noted that the side wall panels 2228 are of an equal Width,the glue flap panels 30-44 and corner panels 36, 38 are of an equalwidth, and the inner liner sleeve panels 32, 34 and 40, 42 are of thesame width. It will be noted that the combined width of one of the innerliner sleeve panels 32, 34 or 40, 42 and that of one of the glue flappanels 30, 44 or 36, 38 is less than the width of one of the side wallpanels 22-28. These dimensions insure that the inner liner sleeve in theerected carton will be spaced from the inner surface of therectangularly disposed side wall panels with the exception of thoseportions of the glue flap panels secured to the side Wall panels. Thisstructure and function will be described in detail relative to theerected carton when considering FIGS. 5, 6 and 8-11.

The inner liner sleeve panels 32, 34 and 40, 42 have formed therebetweencushioning extensions 98 and 100, respectively, which are formed byC-shaped cu-t lines 102 and 104, respectively, extending laterally fromthe respective fold lines 86 and 94 into the inner liner sleeve panels32 and 42, respectively. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art,although not shown, that the C-shaped cut lines 102 and 104 could bereversed, whereby the C-shaped cut lines extend from the fold lines 86and 94 into the inner liner sleeve panels 32 and 34. Additionally, theC-shaped cut lines could alternately extend into panels 32, 34 and 40,42.

The inner liner sleeve panels 32 and 34 have formed therein adjacent themargin 14 a support cradle portion indicated generally at 106 whichcomprises hingedly connected segments 108 'and 110 terminally connectedto the fold lines 84 and 88, and intermediately connected by afragmentary portion 112 of the fold line 86. The support cradle 106 isformed by an 'arcuate out line 114 extending away from the margin 14,the configuration of the cut 114 being determined by the formation ofthe end surface of the fragile article to be protected in the erectedcarton. For example, in the preferred enrbodi! ment, the arcuate outline 114 will engage and support a concave end surface of an elongatedbulb, for example, of the character utilized in photographic projectors.Further, although the support cradle 106 is disclosed as being formedbetween the inner liner sleeve panels 32 and 34, this construction couldalternatively be incoraosasao 3 porated in the adjacent inner linersleeve panels 40 and 42.

Additionally, as indicated in FIG. 4, a second support cradle 106 may beprovided at the lower end of the blank and includes segments 108 and110' terminally connected at opposite ends to the fold lines 84 and 88,being formed by the arcuate cut line 114'. It will be readily apparentto those skilled in the art that the second support cradle 106' could beincorporated in the adjacent side wall panels 40, 42, or a supportcradle could be provided in each of the adjacent pairs of inner linersleeve panels 32, 34 or 40, 42. In other words, the particul'arstructure provided by the cushioning extensions 98 and 100 and thesupport cradles 106 and 106 can be reversed and such construction is tobe considered within the scope of the invention, as will subsequently bedefined in the appended claims.

Considering FIG. 2, the manner in which the novel carton is erected fromthe blank i illustrated; initially, the marginal edge of the glue flap44 is disposed in parallel relationship to the fold line 82, the outerglued surface thereof being juxtaposed on the inner surface of the sidewall panel 28 to form an elongated inner liner sleeve indicatedgenerally at 116 which has a polygonal cross section and which is formedfrom the eight panels 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 and 44. When this firstgluing operation takes place, the inner liner sleeve 116 will be brokenat the fold lines 8496 and the cushioning extensions 98 and 100 willproject in substantially coplanar relationship with respect to the innerliner sleeve panels 34 and 40, it being noted that the terminal edges ofthe cushioning sections 100 will abuttingly engage the inner surface ofthe side Wall panel 28, as clearly seen in FIG. 2.

After the first gluing operation, the side wall panel 26 is folded aboutfold line 80 to be disposed normal to the side Wall panel 28 and theside wall panel 24 is folded about fold line 78 to be disposed normal tothe side wall panel 26, and the side wall panel 22 is folded about thefold line 76 and is secured to the outer surface of the glue flap panel30. This results in the construction disclosed in FIG. 3, and previouslyused reference characters are applied to this figure in order toindicate the manner in which the various blank portions are oriented inthe assembled carton.

It will be noted that the support cradle 106 which is made of portions108 and 110, is still in coplanar relationship with the inner liners 32and 34, respectively. After the cart-on has been erected, as shown inFIG. 3, the support cradle is moved diagonally, as indicated by thedirection arrow, to form the construction most clear- 1y seen in FIG. 8.

Considering FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be readily observed the manner inwhich the gluing of glue flaps 44 and takes place, it being noted thatthe glue flap 44 is secured on the inner surface of side wall panel 28adjacent the fold line 82, and the side wall panel 22 is glued on theouter surface of the first glue flap panel 30. Further, the glue flappanels 30, 44 will be disposed at substantially right angles injuxtaposed relation with respect to the inner surfaces of the side wallpanels 22 and 28, respectively. Additionally, the corner panels 36 and38 will also be disposed at substantially right angles to the cornerformed between the side wall panels 24 and 26. However, these panelswill be in spaced relationship from the inner surfaces of theseintersecting panels as indicated at 118. The cushioning extensions 98and 100 will respectively engage the inner surfaces of the side wallpanels 22 and 28, and the inner sleeve panels 32, 34 and 40, 42 will bein spaced relation from the inner surfaces of intersecting side wallpanels 22, 24 and 26, 28, respectively. It will be noted that the innersleeve has a polygonal cross section, i.e., having eight sides, which issubstantially symmetrical about a plane extending di- 4 agonally throughthe corners identified at the fold lines 78 and 82.

It will be noted in FIG. 8 that the support cradle 106, when displaceddiagonally from the inner liner sleeve panels 32 and 34, will extendbeyond the diagonal plane extending through the corners 78 and 82 andthe arcuate cut 114 will substantially conform to an arcuate portion ofthe lower surface of an elongated bul'b B disposed in the erectedcarton.

Referring to FIGS. 13-15, there is disclosed a modified blank 10 whichincorporates a shortened inner liner sleeve to afford increased spacefor mounting flanges, rings or the like disposed on the base of lampsbeing packaged in the novel container.

In this embodiment, like primed reference numerals will be used toidentify similarly functioning parts of the previously describedembodiment.

The blank 10' includes an elongated body portion 12' which issubstantially rectangular and includes an upper margin 14' parallel to alower margin 16' normal to end margins 18' and 20'. The blank comprisesa series of linearly disposed, hingedly connected panels including afirst side wall panel 22', a second side wall panel 24', a third sidewall panel 26, a fourth side wall panel 28', a first glue flap panel 30,a first inner liner sleeve panel 32', a second inner liner sleeve panel34', first and second corner panels 36' and 38', respectively, a thirdinner liner sleeve panel 40', a fourth inner liner sleeve panel 42' anda second glue flap panel 44'.

The blank 10' includes cover flaps 50 and 52' hingedly connected to thefirst side wall panel 22 and the cover flaps 50 and 52 are hingedlyconnected to end tabs 58' and 60', respectively. The second side wallpanel 24' has.

hingedly connected thereto flaps 66' and 68, respectively, and the sideWall panel 28 has hingedly connected thereto end flaps 74' and 76'. Thisstructure is the full equivalent and substantially identical with thatof the previously described embodiment.

The inner liner sleeve panels 32, 34 and 40', 42 have formedtherebetween cushioning extensions 98' and 100, respectively, whichfunction in the same manner as those cushioning extensions in thepreviously described embodiment.

The inner liner sleeve panels 32 and 34' have formed therebetween asupport cradle portion indicated generally at 106 and functioning in themanner previously described with respect to FIGS. 1-12.

It will be noted in the embodiment of FIGS. 13-15 that the panels 32'44'are of a reduced width wherein the margin 16 is parallel to thepreviously mentioned margins 14', 16' but spaced inwardly therefrom.This construction results in a shorter length inner liner sleeve asclearly seen in FIGS. 14 and 15'. However, the first glue panel 30extends the entire length of the panels 2228' including an extensionportion 31 which extends beyond the margin 16 just mentioned. Tofacilitate formation of the inner liner sleeve from the panels 30'- 44,the margin 16" extends inwardly into the first glue flap panel 30' asindicated at 33'.

This construction facilitates erection of the inner liner sleeve as Wellas provides a relatively long attaching glue flap 30' to provide a goodbase to which the margin 20' of the first side wall panel 22 will besecured in the carton erected from the blank 10.

In all other respects, the blank 10' is substantially identical instructure and function with respect to blank 10 disclosed in FIGS. l12.Accordingly, it is not believed that further description as to themanner of erection, formation of the inner liner sleeve, etc. isnecessary.

Thus, there has been disclosed a novel carton produced from a one-pieceblank which affords economy of automatic erection and packing, desirableprotection for relatively fragile items, such as projecting tubes,electronic components, etc., and which fully conforms with the objectsof the invention heretofore set forth.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention and there:'.re the invention is not to be limited to what is shown in the drawingsand described in the specification, but only as set forth in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. in a blank for producing cartons to protect fragile articlescomprising parallel side margins extending at opposite edges of a seriesof twelve panels disposed in the following order: first, second, thirdand fourth side wall panels, a first glue-flap panel, first and secondinner liner sleeve panels, first and second corner panels, third andfourth inner liner sleeve panels, and a second glueflap panel, saidpanels including a plurality of parallel score lines extending betweenadjacent panels normal to the side margins, a plurality of cushioningextensions spaced longitudinally along the fold line between theadjacent first and second and the fold line between the adjacent thirdand fourth inner liner sleeve panels, said cushioning extensionscomprising portions severed from at least one of each of said pair ofadjacent inner liner sleeve panels, one of said pair of adjacent innerliner sleeve panels including a cradle-cut, extending transverselyacross the fold line between one of said adjacent pair of inner linersleeve panels adjacent one side margin of said blank and terminating atthe fold line bordering one of said glue flap panels and one of saidcorner panels for providing a diagonal support cradle in the cartonerected from said blank.

2. in a blank as set forth in claim 1; and a second cradle-cut similarto that first described and disposed adjacent the opposite side marginof said blank.

3. In a blank as set forth in claim 1; said cradle-cut being arcuate forconforming to the rounded end of an article packed in the cartonproduced from said blank.

4. In a blank as set forth in claim 1; said cushioning extensionscomprising C-shaped cuts extending from the fold line between theadjacent inner liner sleeve panels into the first and fourth inner linersleeve panels.

5. In a blank as set forth in claim 1; said corner and glue-flap panelsbeing of equal Width, said inner liner sleeve panels being of equalwidth, said side wall panels being of equal Width, the combined width ofone of said inner liner sleeve panels and one of said glue-flap panelsbeing less than the width of one of said side Wall panels.

6. In a blank as set forth in claim 1; said side wall panels includingend flap panels at opposite side margins for forming end closures on acarton erected from said blank.

7. In a blank as set forth in claim 1; said first glue flap panelextending the entire length of said side wall panels, said first andsecond inner liner sleeve panels, first and second corner panels, thirdand fourth inner liner sleeve panels and second glue flap panel being ofa length less than that of the side wall panels and first glue flappanel and terminating at a margin parallel to the side margins of saidside Wall and first glue flap panels.

8. A one-piece container for fragile articles comprising fourrectangularly disposed side wall panels, end closure means at oppositeends of said side wall panels, and a tubular inner liner sleeveextending longitudinally of said side Wall panels and disposeddiagonally from opposite corners between adjacent side wall panels, saidinner liner sleeve being secured at one of said opposite corners to theinner surface of each of said adjacent side wall panels and being spacedfrom the remaining inner surface portions of said side wall panels, saidinner liner sleeve including a cradle portion at one end thereof anddisplaceable from one side of said inner liner sleeve adjacent the lowerend thereof and intersecting the plane extending diagonally through theopposite corners formed by said side wall panels.

9. A one-piece container as set forth in claim 8, said tubular innerliner sleeve being of a length less than said side Wall panels foraffording increased space within the container to accommodate enlargedportions of articles packed in the container.

10. The structure of claim 8, said cradle portion comprising segmentsformed from portions displaced from each of one of said adjacent pair ofinner liner sleeve panels by a cut extending transversely of the foldline therebetween, each of said segments being hingedly connected to oneof said glue-flap and corner panels.

11. The structure of claim 8, said inner liner sleeve including a secondcradle portion similar to that described and disposed adjacent the otherend of said inner liner sleeve.

12. The structure of claim 8, said inner liner sleeve comprising apolygonal cross section substantially symmetrical about a planeextending diagonally through said opposite corners formed by said sidewall panels, said sleeve including opposed pairs of inner liner sleevepanels foldably connected on a longitudinal fold line parallel to andspaced from the corners intermediate the corners between which saidinner liner sleeve is diagonally disposed, each of one of said opposedpairs of inner liner sleeve panels including cushion extensions formedtherein and at the longitudinal fold line therebetween and terminallyengaging on adjacent inner surface portions of an adjacent inner surfaceof one of said side Wall panels.

13. The structure of claim 12; said inner liner sleeve comprising eightpanels foldably connected on parallel fold lines and including twosimilar glue-flap panels secured in juxtaposed relation on the innersurface of the adjacent side wall panels at one corner immediatelyadjacent the fold line between said adjacent side wall panels.

14. The structure of claim 13, said inner liner sleeve including asecond cradle portion similar to that described and disposed adjacentthe other end of said inner liner sleeve.

15. The structure of claim 13; said inner liner sleeve including a pairof corner panels equal in width to said glue-flap panels and disposedparallel to and spaced from the other of said opposite corners, saidpairs of inner liner sleeve panels extending at an angle less than fromadjacent edge margins of the glue-flap panels and corner panels to whichthey are hingedly connected.

16. The structure of claim 14; said cradle portion comprising segmentsformed from portions displaced from each of one of said adjacent pair ofinner liner sleeve panels by a cut extending transversely of the foldline therebetween, each of said segments being hingedly connected to oneof said glue-flap and corner panels.

17. A one-piece container for fragile articles comprising fourrectangularly disposed side wall panels, end closure means at oppositeends of said side wall panels, and a tubular inner liner sleeveextending longitudinally of said side Wall panels and disposeddiagonally from opposite corners between adjacent side wall panels, saidinner liner sleeve including a cradle portion at one end thereof anddisplaceable from one side of said inner liner sleeve adjacent the lowerend thereof and intersecting the plane extending diagonally throughopposite corners formed by said side Wall panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,701,088 Tyrseck Feb. 1, 1955 2,714,981 Leanens Aug. 9, 1955 2,827,221Vines Mar. 18, 1958

